Saturday, April 3, 2010

Salzburg Day Trip / Mozartkugeln Taste Test

So, what did you do yesterday? We decided, very spontaneously, to go to Salzburg. One of the nicest things about living in Southern Germany is how close it is to Austria!


Although it wasn't really warm, it wasn't really cold either. The city was so alive. There were locals everywhere, tourists that came for the day or the week, and the atmosphere was springlike and wonderful.


There were signs of spring everywhere, in fact.

And reminders of the fact that is is Easter Weekend.

There's new things to see....I believe that the interior of the Hause der Natur is completely renovated and modernized as well as the outside. But you'll have to check it out yourself to be see for sure.

The fountains were still covered and the Neutor tunnel through the mountain is still under construction. But some of the cleaning is already done.

And ready for summer.......

I don't know when the last time I saw the Augustiner so crowded! Not only was the beer garden packed to the max but all three rooms inside too! There wasn't a piece of red meat to be had...only fish. Because the place is in a cloister, they are not permitted to serve meat on Good Friday. But fish, beer, schnapps....no problem.

OK, and for the most incredible news......there's something new!!!!! Mini Mozartkugeln!!!! I saw them advertised on TV and I searched until I found them. They aren't, at least at this point in time, available everywhere although the company Mirabell certainly has an amazing advertising campaign going on throughout the city. Well, I just HAD to do a taste test so I bought a bag of regular "Mozart balls" and the minis.

I only saw the minis available in this tub. The salesman said to try them first because they taste so different from the original. Of course, what did he think? I wasn't going to eat them even if they did taste different??


When cut in half, they look exactly the same. The minis don't come individually wrapped so the chocolate is pretty shiny. I believe that's because the thin aluminum wrappers on the originals leave slight indentations in the chocolate.

Even the proportions look the same. The same chocolate covering thickness in relation to the size. And the marzipan middle also looks to be proportioned equally as well. Please keep in mind, that I only did this taste test for YOU....so YOU wouldn't have to wonder about it. To save YOU the testing. And what was the verdict?? Well, both of us agreed 100% that they taste exactly the same! The smaller ones just have less of everything so the taste isn't as intense but Mirabell seems to have really made the perfect mini Mozart ball! And BOY.....are they perfect!!!!!

I can't imagine not wanting to be in Salzburg. I hope everyone can come and experience everything there is to experience. And, believe me, there's so much! Something for everyone, I guarantee it! And I leave you on this note..........



10 comments:

lindacreates said...

Oh Wanda, what a lovely day trip you had! It was wonderful to see crosses in memory of Easter coming up. Here in America I see Easter bunnies and candies and wonder if many of the children really understand the meaning of Easter. The daffodils are beautiful and the chocolate looks divine! I can live vicariously through your photos. Unfortunately due to extreme lymphedema I will never be able to fly to Europe, but with the internet can enjoy so much.

Susan Lenz said...

Hi!
I am totally relieved that the testing has been done and the results are out. Now....if we could just figure out how to get one of the gigantic Mozartkugeln liquor bottle back into the USA without customs thinking it is a bomb....because it would pretty much look exactly like a big, round, cartoon styled bomb....Steve would be happy to do comparison testing on various brands of ice cream!
Susan

SONYASPHERE said...

Thank you for the testing! I am sure it was a long and drawn out experiment and I know you did it for ME!!! Can't wait to go to the chocolate factory in July (they know me there, of course!!) --Sonya

xeyedmary said...

Salzburg looks like such a fun city! I love the photo of the team of horses!

ilovebabyquilts said...

I wish I could be in Europe with you! I've never been. Looks lovely.

Kathy A. said...

Oh what a lovely trip through Salzburg. Thank you for sharing it with us. And those chocolates - to die for!!!!Lucky you.

Susan Elliott said...

I am so so happy to know that there are smaller Mozart balls...I have been to Salzburg twice and both times have indulged myself...how can you not? To know that there is a smaller version AND that they taste the same is music to my ears...I'm probably the only woman alive who thought that Mozart's balls were too big...

It's great that you take advantage of where you live and are always bopping around on day trips. I'm just green with envy over here...

P.S. How many small balls can you eat in order to have the large ball equivalent??

Elizabeth Braun said...

Isn't Austria just gorgeous! I loved it when we were there briefly in summer 2008. Hope we can go back and see lots more.=)

Yeah, your comments on my blog sounded very much like I feel at times - that even a week in more familiar surroundings would provide the needed break. It would be much easier on the whole if I wasn't always ill! Anyway, periods of homesickness come and go and that one has gone now and they are getting further apart, so I guess I'm managing OK.=) 8 months to go here, and we should be back home at the end of the year, after a quick trip to South East Asia and to see MIL in Germany.

I guess we all just take life as much as it comes as we can and do the best we can with it.=)

quiltmom anna said...

Wanda,
I thought I had commented on this post but maybe just thought I had done it.
We visited Salzburg many years ago- We loved our chance to spend a little time there. So pretty and lots of wonderful things to see.
The chocolates look so delicious too - I love carmel with chocolate.
Hope spring is treating you well.
Regards,
Anna

Dani - tkdchick said...

What a great day trip!